What Tools Support Both Synchronous and Asynchronous One-on-Ones?

Effective one-on-one meetings often blend synchronous elements (real-time conversations via video/voice) with asynchronous components (collaborative agendas, shared notes, and action items that persist between meetings).

Below, we identify several digital platforms that facilitate both real-time communication and ongoing collaboration for manager–employee check-ins, peer discussions, mentoring sessions, and general 1:1 meetings.

Each tool is evaluated for its synchronous communication features (like video calls or live chat), asynchronous collaboration capabilities (such as shared agendas, persistent chat threads, or task tracking), cross-platform availability, and pricing.

A comparison table is provided at the end for quick reference.

PerformYard

‍PerformYard is a performance management platform that includes a robust one-on-one meeting feature designed to foster structured, ongoing manager and employee conversations. It combines synchronous meeting support (through integrated video or external calls) with asynchronous collaboration via shared agendas, notes, and action items. Managers and employees can add discussion points throughout the week, then meet to review progress, goals, and feedback in real time. During each one-on-one, PerformYard makes it easy to capture notes, assign next steps, and link conversations directly to goals and review cycles–helping teams connect daily performance with long-term development.

• Key Features: Shared one-on-one agendas where both participants can add topics, feedback, or questions ahead of meetings; ability to take collaborative or private notes during sessions; action item tracking that rolls unfinished items into future agendas; integration with PerformYard’s goal management and review modules, so one-on-ones align with broader performance objectives; and automated reminders for upcoming meetings. PerformYard’s 1:1 tools connect seamlessly with employee data from integrated HRIS systems, ensuring meetings are personalized and context-aware.

• Strengths: PerformYard helps transform one-on-ones into meaningful, data-driven conversations. Its customizable templates and structured meeting workflows ensure consistency across teams while allowing flexibility for different roles or departments. Because 1:1s live within the same platform as goals, feedback, and reviews, managers can view progress in context and prepare more efficiently. HR leaders appreciate the unified system for tracking conversations, accountability, and growth – all while reducing administrative overhead.

• Weaknesses: PerformYard doesn’t include built-in video conferencing, so meetings are conducted via integrated tools like Zoom or Microsoft Teams. Smaller organizations seeking a lightweight, standalone notes app might find PerformYard more feature-rich than necessary. However, for organizations already managing reviews or goals in PerformYard, its 1:1 functionality adds strong value without additional tools.

• Platforms: Web-based platform with mobile apps for iOS and Android, allowing users to view agendas, add notes, or mark action items on the go. Integrates with calendar systems (for scheduling and reminders) and communication platforms like Slack or Teams to prompt preparation and follow-ups.

• Pricing: PerformYard’s pricing typically starts around $5 per user/month (billed annually) for its core performance management package, which includes 1:1 meetings, goal management, reviews, and feedback. Additional enterprise pricing and onboarding support are available for larger organizations.

Spinach AI

Spinach started as a tool for automating daily stand-ups, but it has evolved into a lightweight meeting companion for one-on-ones and team retrospectives. It blends AI-driven features with the fundamentals of meeting management. For synchronous meetings, Spinach can join as an AI assistant to record and transcribe the conversation (whether it’s on Zoom, Teams, etc.), and even provide live agenda prompts or timing cues. Asynchronous support comes from shared meeting workspaces where agendas, notes, and action items live, plus AI-generated summaries that participants can review after the meeting. It’s geared toward smaller teams or pairs who want a simple way to stay organized and maybe save time on note-taking.

• Key Features: Shared agendas and notes for each meeting, kept in a dedicated space that both people can access (no more scrappy Google Docs); action item tracking built into the agenda, making follow-ups clear; AI capabilities such as meeting transcription and summaries – Spinach will record the meeting (across multiple platforms) and then generate a concise summary and list of decisions or tasks; integration with tools like Slack and Notion (e.g., send summaries to a Slack channel, or log tasks to a Notion page). It also supports async “pre-recorded” meetings – for example, one person can record a video update, and Spinach transcribes it for the other to read later.
  
  
• Strengths: Automation and AI are the selling points – it reduces the manual effort of writing notes or remembering to send follow-up emails. After a one-on-one, Spinach can automatically email out the notes to participants. It’s also praised for keeping things simple: it doesn’t try to be a comprehensive performance platform; it sticks to agendas, notes, and tasks, which is great for teams that found other tools too heavy. The free tier is quite generous in terms of recording/transcription hours, which is a plus for budget-conscious users.
  
  
• Weaknesses: Being relatively new and lightweight, it might lack some features that competitors have (for instance, a large library of meeting templates or advanced analytics). Its focus on smaller teams means it may not scale or provide admin oversight needed in bigger organizations. Also, if you’re uncomfortable with an AI “listening” to meetings, that could be a barrier (though Spinach emphasizes privacy controls).
  
  
• Platforms: Spinach AI is primarily a web-based service. You use the web app to set up meetings and view notes/summaries. It integrates with major video conference platforms (Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, Webex, Slack Huddles) by joining them via an integration or bot. There’s no heavy client to install; users log into the Spinach site. Some mobile functionality exists (e.g., viewing summaries on a phone browser or email).
  
  
• Pricing: Free plan available (includes unlimited meetings for unlimited users, with basic AI summaries). Pro is a pay-as-you-go model at $2.90 per meeting hour (you pay for the AI processing by the hour of meetings transcribed) – useful if you only occasionally need AI assistance. For heavy users, Business plan is $19 per user/month (annual) for unlimited meetings with advanced AI features. Enterprise pricing is also offered for large scale deployments.
  

Fellow

Fellow is a meeting management tool specifically designed to improve meetings – especially recurring one-on-ones – by providing a shared space for agendas, notes, and action items. Rather than being a standalone video app, Fellow complements your synchronous meeting platform: for example, a manager and direct report can use Fellow to co-create an agenda asynchronously before their one-on-one, then during the live Zoom or Teams call they open Fellow to take notes and log action items, and afterward use Fellow to follow up on tasks. It’s like a digital journal for each of your one-on-one relationships, aimed at making conversations more structured and productive.

• Key Features: Collaborative meeting agendas – both participants can add talking points or questions in advance of the meeting; real-time note-taking during the meeting (with the ability to assign action items to either person); integration with calendar invites (so the agenda is attached to the event) and with video conferencing (Fellow can pop up alongside Zoom/Teams) for ease of use; templates and suggested questions for one-on-ones (e.g. conversation starters, feedback prompts); and recently, an AI meeting assistant that can join calls to transcribe and even provide summaries or draft meeting minutes. All meeting content is saved in the app, creating an archive of past 1:1 discussions.
  
  
• Strengths: Great for keeping one-on-ones on track and accountable – no more forgotten follow-ups, since action items are tracked in the tool. Helps build a habit of preparation (both parties contributing to agenda beforehand) and follow-through (notes and tasks after). Leaders praise Fellow for improving internal communications with its collaborative approach to agendas and templates. It also integrates with tools like Slack, Microsoft Teams, and Google Meet, so it fits into existing workflows.
  
  
• Weaknesses: Fellow doesn’t itself handle the video call – you still need Zoom, Teams, etc., which means you’re using two tools in parallel. Some users might find it redundant if they are already using other project management or note apps, though Fellow is tailored to meetings in a way general apps aren’t. The free version has limited usage of its AI note features and may cap how many meetings or users you can have, so to use it broadly, a paid plan is needed.
  
  
• Platforms: Web application (accessible in browser) and desktop apps. Mobile apps are also available for iOS/Android, useful for reviewing agendas or notes on the go. There’s also a browser extension and integrations that allow opening Fellow within other apps.
  
  
• Pricing: Free tier available (suitable to try for a few meetings, with basic features). Team plan is about $7 per user/month (annual billing) and includes more agendas and integrations. Business plan with organization-wide features is around $15 user/month (annual), and an Enterprise tier exists for large companies. (Educational and nonprofit discounts may apply as well.)

Slack

Slack is a popular team communication platform that supports one-on-one interactions through both instant messaging and calls. It provides real-time chat and audio/video calling alongside persistent chat histories and integrations, making it suitable for informal check-ins or quick questions as well as scheduled 1:1 meetings. Slack’s design as a channel-based messaging app means one-on-one conversations can happen synchronously (live chat or huddle calls) or asynchronously (leaving messages for later reading).

• Key Features: Supports text messaging with threads, file sharing, and integrations (Google Drive, Office 365, etc.); one-on-one or group voice and video calls (with screen sharing) are built in; also offers Slack Huddles for spontaneous audio discussions and Slack Clips for recording short video/audio messages to be consumed asynchronously. Slack’s searchable message history and channel organization help capture decisions and action items for later reference.
  
  
• Strengths: Combines synchronous and asynchronous chat in one place; rich integration ecosystem; easy switching from messaging to calls. Also includes productivity bots (like Slackbot) that can schedule reminders or daily prompts for async check-ins.
  
  
• Weaknesses: Free version limits message history and lacks group video calls; notifications can become noisy without proper configuration. Some users may prefer more structured meeting tools for formal agendas and note-taking.
  
  
• Platforms: Available on Web and as native apps for Windows, macOS, Linux (desktop) and iOS, Android (mobile). All versions stay in sync, allowing on-the-go access to one-on-one discussions.
  
  
• Pricing: Free tier (with limitations on message history and integrations); Pro plan from about $7.25 per user/month (billed annually) for unlimited history and full features–. Slack offers business and enterprise plans with advanced admin controls as well.

Google Meet & Workspace

Google Meet is Google’s video conferencing solution, often used alongside other Workspace tools like Google Chat, Docs, and Calendar for a comprehensive 1:1 meeting experience. It enables real-time video calls with screen sharing and is entirely browser-based (no installation required), which makes it easy to hop on a quick one-on-one call. For asynchronous collaboration, Google Workspace provides shared documents (Docs) for meeting notes and Google Chat spaces for ongoing discussions. A common workflow is to schedule a one-on-one via Google Calendar (with a Meet link attached) and use a linked Google Doc as a rolling agenda or notes document that both parties can edit anytime.

• Key Features: HD video meetings directly in the browser (or mobile app) with features like real-time captions for accessibility, screen sharing, and adjustable layouts; Calendar integration for seamless scheduling and meeting joining; chat messaging during calls as well as Google Chat for persistent messages outside the call; ability to record meetings (for some plans) and save to Google Drive; and the broader Workspace tools (Docs, Sheets, Keep) which can be used asynchronously to prepare agendas and track action items.
  
  
• Strengths: No software download needed – participants can join via a web link instantly; excellent integration with Gmail and Google Calendar for invites and reminders; easy to share and co-edit documents or sheets during the meeting (e.g., both people typing notes in a Google Doc simultaneously). The free plan allows fairly long one-on-one calls (up to 24 hours) and is widely accessible with just a Google account.
  
  
• Weaknesses: Feature set is a bit simpler compared to specialized meeting management tools – Meet itself doesn’t provide built-in agenda or task management (you rely on separate Docs/Tasks apps). Advanced features (like polling, breakout rooms, meeting recording) are restricted to paid tiers. Also, both parties need Google accounts for best use, which might be a limitation in some mentoring or cross-organization cases.
  
  
• Platforms: Accessible via Web (Chrome, Firefox, etc.), with dedicated apps on Android and iOS. Google Chat and Calendar also have web and mobile apps. There’s a standalone Google Meet app on mobile, while on desktop it runs in-browser.
  
  
• Pricing: Free for personal Google accounts (up to 100 participants, 60-minute group calls, 24-hour 1:1 calls). Business plans (Google Workspace) start from $6 per user/month (Business Starter), which include Meet and the full suite; for example, Google’s Workspace Essentials offers Meet starting around $4.20/user/month for organizations. Higher tiers enable recordings, noise cancellation, and larger meetings.

Synchronous and Asynchronous Tools Comparison Table